Lakers Notebook: Antawn Jamison OK with L.A. choice

CHARLOTTE -- As he snuck in a rare visit back home, Antawn Jamison received a visual reminder Friday of what life might be like had he chosen a more lucrative offer this offseason from the Charlotte Bobcats

He'd spend more time with his four children, including Alexis (12), Kathryn 7, Antawn Jr. (6) and Rucker (3). On Friday, he ate breakfast with them before driving them to school.

But with his children's encouragement, Jamison signed a one-year deal for the veteran's minimum worth $1.4 million with the Lakers in hopes to win his first NBA championship in 15 seasons.

Nothing has gone according to plan. The Lakers are scrapping for a playoff seed. Jamison was expected to experience a slight dropoff in his career-average 19.5 points per game. Few anticipated Jamison averaging only 8.1 points per game, though. Even fewer predicted Jamison's fluctuating bench role would entail sitting for seven consecutive games.

Does he regret his decision?

"Even though we are where we are right now, at least I got this opportunity," Jamison said. "It could've been, 'What if I had an opportunity and I didn't take advantage of it?' It always would've been in the back of my mind."

Despite the Lakers' persistent losing, it still beats the Bobcats' fortunes. They remain the NBA's worst team.

"That would've driven me crazy too," Jamison said. "I would definitely take this over that. But there have been times I'm like, "Man, I miss those footsteps coming up and down the steps and them jumping up on the bed."

Jamison will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, when he will have to answer the same question about his future. Although he insisted he hasn't leaned one way, Jamison suggested his sentiments have changed.

"The most important thing for me right now is family and being around them," Jamison said. "They're at the stage where they know what I do, but you still want to be there with them as they go through a lot of things in life right now. If anything, that will play a big part of my decision as far as what I do and if I can be away from them another year."

Shooting slump

For someone who has thrived on remaining unpredictable, Metta World Peace has surprisingly become a source of consistency.

Until now.

Over the past seven games, World Peace has shot 25 of 87 from the field (28.7 percent). That's a far cry from his relatively better 40-percent clip.

"The main thing is for you to shoot," World Peace said. "When the ball goes into the rim and it wobbles out, you really can't say nothing about those. When the ball hits the back of the rim, as a shooter that's an easy adjustment. When you get the next two, most likely the next look will go in. It will average out. It'll come back around and shots will start falling."

Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni has one theory why that hasn't happened lately, and it had nothing to do with taking bad shots. Quite the opposite.

"He's hesitating on some," D'Antoni said. "That's what happens when they're not filling it. We're at that stage right now."